Just when you thought youB次元官网网址檇 heard it all.

After three decades of umpiring, PentictonB次元官网网址檚 Scott McLaren has heard it all when it comes to insults yelled from the stands by upset fans but every once in awhileB次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭hat is, unless they get really creative and then I find that enjoyable as long as itB次元官网网址檚 funny,B次元官网网址� said McLaren, who was the 2017 World Baseball Softball Confederation Umpire of the Year and is the Sport B.C. official of the year finalist.

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B次元官网网址淵ou go to ballparks and hockey arenas and you hear the same old tried and true insults (I thought only horses sleep standing up, etc.) and you just find those lazy and not really impressive. But then you hear something funny and you go, B次元官网网址榓h, alright, thatB次元官网网址檚 pretty good.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淵ou canB次元官网网址檛 say it, but thatB次元官网网址檚 great. You do what you have to do but in the meantime, youB次元官网网址檙e excited to get back to the locker room to talk to your colleagues, B次元官网网址榟ey you canB次元官网网址檛 believe what this guy said.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

McLaren started umpiring as a kid because: B次元官网网址淚 was a baseball and softball nerd so getting to watch games and getting paid for it was a pretty good job, and it beat working fast food.B次元官网网址�

There was also the self-realization aspect for him, that where he wanted to go in terms of national teams and international competitions wasnB次元官网网址檛 going to be as a player.

B次元官网网址淚 seemed to be getting pretty good at this officiating thing, or at least people think IB次元官网网址檓 pretty good, and they keep sending me places and I keep getting invited back,B次元官网网址� said McLaren.

In particular, it was his work at the WBSC Junior WomenB次元官网网址檚 Softball World Championship in Clearwater, Fla. last year which helped him garner the Umpire of the Year award.

He still remembers the call from South Africa, where the WBSC conference was, letting him know he had won the prestigious honour.

B次元官网网址淥f course I did what every other person does when their phone rings and it says Botswana. You let it go to voicemail because I donB次元官网网址檛 know anybody there,B次元官网网址� said McLaren with a laugh.

And about why anyone would want to be an official in any sport, knowing any or all calls may bring the wrath of fans showering down upon you? He thought for a moment and said:

B次元官网网址淩eally itB次元官网网址檚 love of the sport. You talk to every official and it eventually comes back to that. I absolutely love the sport.B次元官网网址�

Overall he believes abuse of officials at most levels, especially by players and coaches, has improved but still has a huge impact on young people who are new to the job and have not yet developed the thicker skin.

B次元官网网址淔ans arenB次元官网网址檛 getting better and itB次元官网网址檚 a constant challenge across all sports,B次元官网网址� said McLaren. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really a heat of the moment thing, everything coming from a biased perspective. People just get caught up in it and really, well you just live with it.B次元官网网址�